If we can't get BLM to change their treatment of wild horses out of a sense what's humane and right, we must make them allow cruelty while the whole world is watching.

The case of Laura
Leigh v. Ken Salazar, U.S. Department of the Interior, et al continued in
Federal Court in Reno, Nevada, February 19, 2013.

Two years
ago, Leigh, a photojournalist, claimed viewing restrictions at the Silver King
roundup of wild horses violated her First Amendment rights. Though she was
denied injunctive relief, Leigh appealed.

The case
continued with an emphasis on the press and public’s diminishing opportunities
to document wild horse round-ups throughout the West, beginning in 2001 and
continuing to the present.

Witnesses included:
Elyse Gardner, humane observer at Pryor Mountain, Twin Peaks and Calico Complex
round-ups; Sally Summers, director of HorsePower, an organization which
originated Nevada license plates which picture a wild white horse and burro,
proceeds from which benefit equine rescue; Bill Bauer, a veteran observer of
round-ups in several states and Terri Farley, author of fact-based fiction and
an early observer of wild horses round-ups in the Calico Complex.

As testimony
ran into the second half of the day, Judge Larry Hicks issued a “heads up,”
saying witnesses had established variable and diminishing opportunities to view
wild horses at round-ups and BLM pens, however the court needed clarification
on what constituted reasonable viewing opportunities.

Over the
objection of Department of Interior Attorney Eric Peterson, Judge Hicks declared
Leigh “the most knowledgeable journalist to observe wild horse roundups,” and
let her take the stand to define reasonable access.

Citing the
number of worldwide readers who depend on her research, Leigh insisted “unobstructed
views” of her subjects and the ability to identify mustangs as individuals was
most important.

On
Wednesday, February 19, Federal witnesses are expected to state safety concerns
regarding public attendance at the wild horse roundups and facilities they
manage.